For nearly a decade Brooklyn-based more creativity records has been helping to shape the underground electronic scene. Their expansive catalog of releases features a treasure chest of gems and helped to break a wide range of artists including jives, Michael Mason, VOLO, Brainrack, Lavier, YUMZ, and more. After a year-long hiatus, the label is set to get back to business, and what better way to welcome them back than with a FUXWITHIT Guest mix + interview?
The mix serves as a showcase as to what fans can expect from their return with an all ID offering that features unreleased gems from label favourites and family that includes jives, episcool x Mo Vibez, nicci, the catalyst (chromonicci), ell!psis, Lavier, asáu, and more.
The interview is an honest and enlightening conversation with a label’s founder Zack Jacinto. We discuss the driving force that birthed the label, the time away and how it changed his outlook, finding more creativity in life, and what we can expect from the label’s return.
Check out the mix and interview below.
What should we expect when we press play on the mix? What was your goal when putting it together?
100% unreleased music. Big thank you to all the homies that shared their IDs.
Aside from that – It’s a bit all over the place. From BPM to different genres. Definitely not a mix you’d hear in a live setting or club but it’s an easy listen.
Just wanted to showcase unreleased music from some of our favorite artists we’ve released with over the years. So many mixes/sets nowadays just feel super one note and predictable, so I definitely was hoping to push myself in featuring a wide range of electronic music.
We wanted to create a label for smaller artists who were really pushing experimental electronic music regardless of the genre.
What inspired you to start the label? Why did it need to exist?
I started the label almost 10 years ago with Michael Mason while we were roommates in college in NYC.
At the time “the golden age of SoundCloud” was booming with labels like Team Surpreme, Courteous Family, PC Music, SATURATE Records, Alaya. etc – all those labels were and are still incredibly inspiring.
We wanted to create a label for smaller artists who were really pushing experimental electronic music regardless of the genre.
So much of this scene just runs on trends and clout culture that doing anything your heart isn’t into will just gas you out and kill the passion or motivation.
What’s the best lesson you have learned by running the label over the years?
Do what you wanna do. (In life and in music). So much of this scene just runs on trends and clout culture that doing anything your heart isn’t into will just gas you out and kill the passion or motivation
You took some time off recently. What prompted the time away?
I did. First and longest break I’ve taken from releasing music in 10 years. Incredibly scary, but also extremely necessary for me. From 2016-2023 I was releasing at least 1 track every month (often multiple times a month) on the label.
We saw a ton of growth and recognition in that time but I eventually got burnt out from the industry and scene. I fell in love with the SoundCloud community, and the online portion of the industry but never was super connected to nightlife/festivals/clubs etc. It felt in order to make an impact there was this constant need to be involved on all fronts whether it was in-person or online and it just burnt me out.
I no longer have a desire to constantly be releasing music for the sake of releasing music or seeing our numbers go up. I just want to release cool music projects. That’s pretty much my only goal nowadays.
Did the time off change your approach or way of looking at the label at all?
1000%. Not only the way I look at the label but also the industry and my involvement as a whole. My goals and interests have changed and that will reflect how the label operates. I no longer have a desire to constantly be releasing music for the sake of releasing music or seeing our numbers go up. I just want to release cool music projects. That’s pretty much my only goal nowadays.
What do you look for when signing music? How do you know when a track is a fit for more creativity?
It’s definitely changed throughout the years. In the early years we were accepting demos from everyone where nowadays we kinda operate more like a collective.
I think most of the artists we release with today have a very distinct sound. Most of the tracks we are releasing usually have pretty obscure or unconventional sound design combined with the ability to still dance, move, nod your head, etc.
Are there any specific sounds or styles you’ve really been enjoying lately?
Jane Remover, and Underscores. Jane Remover and Underscores. Jane Remover and Underscores. Jane Remover and Underscores. Jane Remover and Underscores.
Lol I could go on FOREVER about these two. But everything from production, arrangement, creativity, branding, lyrics, songwriting – everything about these two are SO dialed in. I think everything they are doing is so wildly inspiring.
How do you go about finding “more creativity” within your own life?
Cheesy/cliche answer: just staying true to myself lol. Like I mentioned, I get bored easily. I can tell when I’m interested and excited about something vs. just going through the motions.
Follow the heart in what you wanna do, I can never see myself having regrets in the future with that mindset.
You’ve always had dope thematic artwork to accompany your releases. What inspires the visuals for the brand? Does Lavier do all the artwork?
Thank you immensely for mentioning that!! We always put a ton of thought into branding/artworks. Artists like underscores, Porter, G Jones, SOPHIE, Flume, Arca, Ivy Lab, Zack Fox, Amon Tobin, umru, are just some of the artists that I’m always looking to for inspiration.
But yes Lavier (Dylan Evans) has done all of our artworks since 2018 and pretty much our “Creative Director” for all things visual. He makes the whole process so so so much easier for me.
Really just trying to slow down, and work on projects with a passion and give them each the love and support they deserve.
What can we expect from you this year?
Finally releasing music again! Can probably expect around 4-6 releases this year. Not too many. Mix of EPs and singles starting later this month with an 3-track EP from our favorite Aussie boy Jives, followed by an ell!psis release and then a Lavier release.
Really just trying to slow down, and work on projects with a passion and give them each the love and support they deserve.
Is there anything else we should know?
Just really hope to urge more of the bass and SoundCloud community to try and push more diversity in the scene. On all fronts from genres, race, gender, sexual orientation etc. We are seeing the same recycled lineups all over the country and they are all coming from the same agencies or management companies.
I think shouting out peeps like Onhell and his parties are SO incredibly important. ArielleNYC from Heads Know is another promoter always pushing diverse parties, and artists and creating a sense of community.
Aside from that enjoy the mix and thanks for the support over the years FUXWITHIT!
More Creativity FUXWITHIT Guest Mix Tracklist
1. intro/ID
2. Lavier – ID
3. asáu – ID
4. Flex Ariani – ID
5. jives – ID
6. Lavier – ID
7. episcool x Mo Vibez – ID
8. caracure – ID
9. asáu – ID
10. Big Red – ID
11. nicci,the catalyst (chromonicci) – ID
12. caracure – ID
13. ell!psis – ID
14. jives – ID
15. jives – ID
16. caracure x dash30 – ID
17. Lavier – ID
18. Lavier – ID
